I have gone through 12 or 13 saddles for my current gelding. I have owned custom, henning, schleese etc. I now ride in a Shelby designed by Frank Tobias which finally works for the both of us. It was 4k. I have a schleese prolight that was 8k that is for sale cause I could never get it right for him. Expensive doesnt always mean better I have learned.
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Will Baines do a forward flap? I’m tentatively thinking of another BC Vinici when my 4 yo is more mature, or alternately a Custom, but the price point on Baines is attractive if they can customize for my stupid-long femurs.
And for the OP - for $7K, you could buy two! 
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I had high hopes that it would work for me but my horse didn’t like the FLAIR panels and I found the seat uncomfortable.
Absolutely. When you click on their saddles and then the options, it will show you all the flap angles etc. They do a forward and extra forward 
(as well as regular)
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Thank you, everyone for your responses, this has been super helpful and definitely has expanded my knowledge and options.
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In addition to what @Bensmom said (Yes, there are multiple flap options) they will do fully custom, too. I think it’s $200 to design your own completely unique saddle. I did one for a client who was 6’3" riding a draft horse. We used the tree for one model, the seat of another, and our own unique flap that isn’t like anything they usually do, plus extra D-rings! So fun! And the final cost was mid-$3Ks
As I’ve been following this thread, the thought that keeps coming to my mind is, “even if I had $7K to spend on a new saddle, why would I feel tempted to spend that much?” What would make a saddle worth twice as much as a Baines? Maybe if it came with a built-in trainer?
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Thanks @no.stirrups I will definitely keep Baines on my list for when my girl graduates from her Kent and Master’s.
I love my custom Stackhouse. Lesley has been wonderful to work with (David is great too, but he can come off a little abrasive if you’re not prepared for it). The saddle is beautiful and fits my horse like a dream. They’ve done amazing follow up too, to make sure I’m still happy!
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WOW Saddles, and then I would put the money I wouldn’t spend from my 7k budget away
As far as the comments about the twists being wide…I am impressed! I own two personally and have sat in several others. I have yet to find their twists to be wide and uncomfortable!
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Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but when I got a quote on an Adagio, it was exactly the same base price as any model from Custom, with the addition of the 10-day no questions asked return policy, fixed-value trade in program, and network of fitters whose work is supported by the factory within warranty. And that’s for the same money, so that would be why I’d go with another brand.
Every aspect of their saddle/s is researched and tested.
Their brochure (albeit dated 2014) is quite informative.
I’ve been riding in WOWs for 20 years now, and I wouldn’t change for all the tea in China. I’m now a Grade V para rider with L5/S1 spinal damage. Their coccyx relief seat means I can ride again.
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In that case, your fitter clearly didn’t fit what you needed. Considering WOW have approximately 9 gullet shapes from the narrowest to the widest, their seats are designed with a narrow twist so that those with wide horses can actually sit and ride in comfort.
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I’ve ridden in WOWs for 20 years, my mum has fitted them for 20 years. I’m not sure what has happened for people to think they’re wide.
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Nah, they’re all super wide. The gullet shape has nothing to do with the twist, which is super wide on every single one I’ve seen. I had a wide horse, and it was not comfortable - plus sat a million miles off the horse. It was what worked for him so I rode him in it for over a year but it did me absolutely no favors.
I don’t know Custom prices at all, but the Adagio is currently just under $4K. Assuming the prices are the same, that doesn’t answer my question at all! (“As I’ve been following this thread, the thought that keeps coming to my mind is, “even if I had $7K to spend on a new saddle, why would I feel tempted to spend that much?” What would make a saddle worth twice as much as a Baines?”)
Definitely there are loads of reasons to choose one brand over another at the same price, mostly down to personal preference. Since you raised some valid points, though, I will say that Frank Baines is sold almost entirely through independent fitters so return policies and trade ins would be determined at a more local level. While you like having a “network of fitters” I would prefer being able to go “out of network” to any fitter I like and still have the saddle’s warranty remain intact.
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It’s been my experience that the return policy on any of these smaller makes is 'none, it’s custom, not returnable" unless the item is so standard as to not even be worth ordering custom to get. I understand why that is, but it is a problem to a buyer of these smaller brands. Generally when you’re paying more you’re also paying for things like improved resale value, representation at the shows you attend (Custom brought a saddle to a show for me last weekend and I met them there to try it), demo saddles to ride in while waiting for a new order or repairs, etc. The intangibles that come with a purchase.
As for the network of fitters I think we are actually saying the same thing. My custom can be worked on by the rep at home or the rep in Florida even though she didn’t sell me the saddle. The independents I have talked to will only guarantee their saddles if they are the only one who works on them.
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Stackhouse hands down
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$7k is a little rich for my blood, BUT if you mean “higher end” in general, I’m a HUGE fan of Albion. I’ve had good experiences with County too, and I’ve been eyeballing Trilogy and Black Country saddles for a while now. FWIW, I haven’t personally owned or ridden in Custom or Schleese, but some other boarders at my barn have had some frustrating fitting experiences with those brands.
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Not sure if these saddles are readily available in the US (we’re in Australia), but we bought a used Luc Childeric for my daughter. It’s a beautiful saddle with a narrow twist. We had tried so many saddles and were delighted when a friend decided to sell hers as I wouldn’t have considered one because of the price. Got the saddle fitter out and thankfully, it fit our horse! And put my daughter in a very good position. Here in Aus, a new one is up around $7000+, but we paid less than half.
Yes. They are widely available in North America. A new one retails for about $5000 Canadian. Lovely quality and can be very comfortable, although I personally find the twist to be too wide. However having made that mistake once, I will not likely buy a foam saddle that can’t be adjusted again, so wouldn’t recommend spending that kind of money on one. Used? For a good price I would recommend if it were a good fit for horse and rider.
